La Fornarina

The woman is depicted from the shoulders up against a dark background of myrtle leaves. She wears a striped silk turban and a jewelry piece featuring a pendant pearl, looking slightly off-camera with a subtle smile. Her dark hair is parted in the middle and her skin is rendered with smooth, luminous tones.

In the context of Renaissance Neoplatonism, this portrait is often interpreted as an embodiment of the 'Vulgar Venus' or earthly beauty, which serves as a starting point for the soul's ascent to divine love. The presence of myrtle, a plant sacred to Venus, aligns the work with the Ficinian discourse on the dual nature of love and the contemplation of the human form as a reflection of celestial harmony.